Foot well for baby carriages



April 4-, 1939. MlcHAL I FOOT WELL FOR BABY CARRIAGES Filed March 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 4, 1939. .1. MICHAL FOOT WELL FOR BABY CARRIAGES Filed March 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllln Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES 2,153,471 FOOT WELL FOR BABY CARRIAGES James Michal, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Storkline Furniture Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 22, 1937, Serial No. 132,424

7 Claims.

My invention relates to footwells for baby carriages, and more particularly to that type of footwells which are convertible from a horizontal position to a lowered one, and my main object is to provide a footwell of this kind which of simple construction.

A further object of the invention is to design the novel footwell for slidable action in the carriage when the latter is to be extended.

Another object of the invention is to construct the novel footwell in a manner to operate easily and conform to the design. and construction of the carriage.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of ababy cariage containing the novel footwell;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental section on a vertical plane of so much of the carriage body as contains the footwell.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of l thebody, showing a support for the footwell;

Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 2, and partly broken away; and

vFig. 6 is a detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. v

While baby carriage footwells which are both slidable and swingable from a horizontal to a lowered position are not generally novel, various methods of construction have been employed for the same which accomplish the object with more or less efficiency. However, in order for a carriage so improved to be successful from all points of view, the improvement must employ the fewest parts which will most efficiently obtain the desired result, and it has been my intention to produce a footwell construction which has the advantages of economy, efficiency and good appearance.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reierence to the drawings indicates the sides of the carriage body at 10, the bed bottom therein at l l, and the rounded front end at l2. The rear end is similar to the latter, but constitutes the footwell It in the normal or raised position, wherein the footwell is merely oneend portion of the carvriage body. When so positioned, the carriage is adapted to accommodate a younginfant in a lying position. However, when the infant-has grown older the footwell may be horizontally .ex-

tended as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. land 2, in order to provide a longer interior. However, when the child is old enough to assume a seated position, the footwell may be swung from its original position to the lowered one indicated by dot-and-dash lines in the same figures.

The footwell as considered in the original position, consists of the curved end wall 13, a bottom [3a and sides 13?). For the purpose of disposing the footwell between the carriage sides I0, the footwell is inwardly extended from the bottom l3c. with a platform l4 having a pair of runners Ma at the sides and constituting a slide. While the footwell is preferably of wood, the slide is of metal plate construction in order to form a strong base for the footwell. For the accommodation of the footwell in a sliding relation to the carriage body, the sides ID of the latter are lined on the inside with a pair of sills 15 which develop rearwardly with enlargements 15a. The sills and their enlarged portions are secured in many places as indicated at I52) to the body walls in order to become rigidly attached thereto.

The sills [5 have a pair of slots 150, while the enlargements have a similar pair of slots 15d all the slots being in the same plane. However, the slots 1501 have downward end pockets l5e. The enlargements l5a are also cut with a pair of horizontal slots I5 a short distance below the slots l5d, the slots 15 having pockets I59 at the rear ends and arcuate extensions I571. in a downward 3 and forward direction at the front ends.

When the footwell I3 is positioned between the body sides I2, a pair of side-pins l4b from the front portions of the runners Ma project into the slots l5c, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 5; I likewise, a pair of side-pins I from the rear portions of the runners project into the slots 15d. When the footwell is in the initial position, the pins I41) and I40 are at the front ends of the respective slots, as shown; and it follows that when the footwell is extended to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the said pins will be in the rear portions of the slots under consideration. At each end of the footwell travel mentioned, the pins [4c will fall into the corre- I spending pockets 15a of the slots l5d, thus looking the footwell from horizontal departure. However, a slight raise of the footwell when it is to be actuated in either direction, will unseat the locking pins and release the footwell for sliding travel.

It is noted from Fig. 2 that the footwell I3 is substantially sector-shaped, and that it is extended from its axis with pins I3c which enter holes Md in the slide runners Ma and dispose the footwell in pivotal relation to the slide, whereby to make it possible to drop the footwell from the full line to the dot-and-dash position in Fig. 2. In reaching the latter position, the bottom l3a of the footwell meets a pair of rubber bumpers He carried by brackets I41 secured to the slide at Hg, in order to cushion and silence the drop of the footwell.

In order that the footwell l3 may normally maintain its raised or horizontal position, a looking device employing a pair of levers I6 is used. These levers extend crosswise under the footwell bottom l3a, their medial portions being slotted as indicated at Ilia. to pivot on pins 13d depending from the bottom I3. The inner ends of the levers l6 are pivoted at I6b to a plunger ll slidable longitudinally under the footwell bottom I360. The rear end of the plunger extends through an opening in the footwell to terminate with a hook Ila, the opening being reinforced by an external, slotted plate l8. The plunger is guided in its longitudinal movement by a screw I9 which is directed into the footwell bottom through a longitudinal slot I'Ib made in the plunger IT. The screw l9 also forms-a limit for the rearward movement of the plunger, as indicated in Fig. 5, the plunger being maintained at such limit by an expansive spring 20 coiled around a pin 2| carried by a bracket '22 secured to the bottom 1301., the pin passing freely through a terminal downward flange 110 of the plunger.

With the levers l6 and the plunger l1 maintained in the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 5, theouter'end portion of the levers are caused to seat in a pair of notches Mh cut in the rear ends of the slide runners I la, such ends being forwardly inclined, as indicated at Hi. This engagement of the lever IS with the slide runners maintains the foot well in the horizontal position, andit is only when the plunger H is pushed forward by using the hook Ila as a handle, that the levers #6 are swung to the positions indicated by dotted-lines in Fig. 5, whereby to cause their outer end portions to emerge from the slots h and allow the iootwell to swing to the lowered position. In order that the outer end portions of the levers 16 may retain their alinement with the slots Hh, such portions are caused to pass through the vertical flanges 2 3a of'a pair of plates 23 secured-under the bottom I3a, such flanges having slots 23b in the moving path of thele'ver end portions.

' When the footwell has been released and lowered, the spring 20 of the plunger l1 has restored the lever l6 and the plunger to the initial positions. However, when the foot well is again to be raised, a hold is secured on the hook Ila to pull the same up. When the top position of the footwell is approached, the outer end portions of the levers H engage the inclined ends Hi of the slide runners-Ha and arecrowded rearwardly by the same in the manner of cams with the efiect of tensioning the Spring 20. However, when the slots Hh are reached, the levers I6 snap into the same in the manner of latches, and become positively locked to the slide runners.

As the levers extend somewhat beyond the slide runners Ha, allowance must be made for the "positions'and movements of the lever end portions in reference to the side members of the carriage between which the footwell is situated.

' The members involved'are the enlargements 15a "of thesills "l5, and it is'seen that the slots l5 therein are positioned to afiord travelling clearonce for the lever 'end'porti'ons referred to, the

drop or pocket l5g accommodating these when the pins Me of the footwell fall into the rear pockets I5e of the slots l5d. The forward arcuate portions l5h of the slots l5f afford clearance for the lever end portions when the footwell swings to the lowered position. It is now seen that this arrangement only permits the footwell to be lowered when it is in the forward or initial position. Should the footwell be slid rearwardly to an extended position, the slots I51 or their pockets I 5g will form stops in respect to the lever end portions to lock the footwell from descent. It is obvious that no advantage would be gained to render the footwell convertible to the dropped position when extended, as the occupant would not need the extra horizontal room when in the seated position.

It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a footwell construction which accomplishes all requirements with a minimum of parts and actions. Therefore, no mechanical complications are involved or necessary, the only control mechanism being that of the footwell look. It is significant that the sides of the carriage body carry no mechanism whatever, their reinforcement by the sills I 5 serving the additional purpose of bearings for the slide 15 as well as clearances for the end portions of the levers I 6. Besides, the simple construction of the sills provide a check against the drop of the footwell when in extended position. Further, the rigid metallic construction of the slide l4 not only affords a strong base for the footwell, but also makes the positions of the pins Mb and I40, as well as of the footwell in the locked position, firm and permanent.

While no internal furnishings for the carriage body have been shown, a strip of leatherette is provided at 24 to bridge the gap between the slide l4 and the footwell bottom l3a, the flexibility of the strip permitting the free action of the footwell bottom. Also, the levels of the latter and the carriage bottom I l are in actual practice less pronounced in relation than would appear from Fig. 2, so that the difference therebetween is not conspicuous. Finally, it will be evident that the novel footwell conforms to the general makeup of the carriage body and constitutes a.

convertible unit which is simple, durable, easy to operate and fully dependable in any of its positions.

I claim:

1. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members having terminal notches, a footwell swingable within the side members between raised and lowered positions, elements carried by the footwell and seating in said notches to maintain the footwell in the raised position, means to retract said elements from the notches and release the footwell for the lowering movement, and spring means to keep said elements in the notches, the edges containing said notches being cam-shaped to back said elements and compress said spring means as the footwell approaches the raised position on the return swing until the elements register with the notches and are projected into the same by said spring means.

2. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members means to keep said elements in the notches, the edges containing said notches being inclined in directions to back said elements and compress said spring means as the footwell approaches the raised position on the return swing until the elements register with the notches and are projected into the same by said spring means.

3. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members having terminal notches, a footwell swingable within the side members between raised and lowered positions, elements carried by the footwell and seating in said notches to maintain the footwell in the raised position, means to retract said elements from the notches and release the footwell for the lowering movement, said elements being a pair of levers extended from a medial zone on the bottom of the footwell in lateral directions, and pivot means intermediate the ends of the levers to render them swingable parallel to said bottom, said retracting means being a hand plunger reciprocable longitudinally of the carriage and with the inner end linked to the inner ends of the levers, and yieldable means on the footwell bottom to resist the instroke of the plunger productive of said retraction.

4. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members having terminal notches, a footwell swingable within the side members between raised and lowered positions, elements carried by the footwell and seating in said notches to maintain the footwell in the raised position, means to retract said elements from the notches and release the footwell for the lowering movement, said elements being a pair of levers extended from a medial zone on the bottom of the footwell in lateral directions, and pivot means intermediate the ends of the levers to render them swingable parallel to said bottom, said retracting means being a hand plunger reciprocable longitudinally of the carriage and with its inner end linked to the inner ends of the levers, a perforated fiange at the inner end of the plunger, a bracket carried by the footwell bottom beyond the flange and having a return pin freely directed through the perforation in the flange, and an expansive spring surrounding the pin and lodged between the bracket and the flange to resist the instroke of the plunger productive of said retraction.

5. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members having terminal notches, a footwell swingable within the side members between raised and lowered positions, elements carried by the footwell and seating in said notches to maintain the footwell in the raised position, means to retract said elements from the notches and release the footwell for the lowering movement, said elements being a pair of levers pivoted on the bottom of the footwell and extended in outward directions, and retainers at the sides of the footwell with slots for the passage of the outer lever portions, such slots retaining said portions to the footwell and checking their advance to a predetermined limit.

6. A footwell construction for baby carriages comprising a pair of reinforcing sills lining the sides of the carriage body and formed with a pair of horizontal slots, a footwell support slidable from front to rear and vice-versa between the sills, a footwell pivoted. in the support to swing between raised and lowered positions, and means to lock the footwell in the raised position and comprising levers projecting from the sides cf the footwell, said slots providing clearance for said levers within said sills at the ends and intermediately of the sliding movement of the footwell support, and the front ends of the slots having downward arcuate extensions to clear said levers on the downswing of the footwell from its frontal position, said sills having a second pair of horizontal slots, both pairs formed with downward pockets at their rear ends, and a pair of side pins carried by the footwell support and operating in said second pair of slots during the sliding movement thereof, said pockets for the pins forming rear-end stops for the footwell, and said pockets of the first-mentioned slots forming clearances for said levers when the footwell drops from the fall of said pins into the corresponding pockets.

'7. In a baby carriage, a pair of side members having similar profiles with terminal notches, a footwell swingable within the side members between raised and lowered positions, a pair of levers movable along the bottom of the footwell and extending outwardly to seat in said notches when the footwell is in the raised position whereby to lock the same, means to retract the levers and release the footwell for the down-swing, and yieldable means to urge the levers in the direction of said profiles, the latter constituting rising cams for the levers on the up-swing of the footwell against the tension of said yieldable means until the levers register with the notches and are projected into the same by such yieldable means.

JAMES lVIICI-IAL. 

